City Hall
$60 License Fee is the Starting Point, Not the Compromise
When folks line up to testify in favor of an $80 vehicle license fee (VLF) at City Hall this evening (transit, bike, and pedestrian groups have been rallying the troops to testify at tonight's hearing on the license fee, which could go on the November ballot), they'll actually be asking the city council to increase the size of the fee, which, in legislation before the council, is currently set at $60.
Crosswalk in Greenlake: The sort of safety improvements a vehicle license fee would pay for.
Earlier this week, the council, meeting as the Transportation Benefits District board, debated a range of license-fee proposals between $40 and $80, lasting between eight and 12 years, and consisting of various mixes of road maintenance, transit improvements, and bike and pedestrian projects. (Mayor Mike McGinn has proposed a permanent, $80 fee, but that appears to be a nonstarter at the council.) Council transportation chair Tom Rasmussen presented a compromise proposal that would cost $60 and last eight years; however, that "compromise" now appears to be the starting point. If council members want to negotiate for more or less, they'll have to make their case against Rasmussen's $60 proposal.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Planning Commission, which advises the council on planning issues, came out in favor of the $80 fee. In a letter to Rasmussen today, commission members wrote, "The full $80 dollar VLF as opposed to a smaller number provides the revenue necessary to construct the important downtown Rapid Streetcar connection as well as allow for significant progress in constructing high capacity transit (likely to be Rapid Streetcar) for the Ballard or Eastlake corridors."
Tonight's meeting starts at 5:30 pm in city council chambers; the TBD board meets again to discuss potential ballot measures at 11:00 am on Tuesday, August 16.
Crosswalk in Greenlake: The sort of safety improvements a vehicle license fee would pay for.
Earlier this week, the council, meeting as the Transportation Benefits District board, debated a range of license-fee proposals between $40 and $80, lasting between eight and 12 years, and consisting of various mixes of road maintenance, transit improvements, and bike and pedestrian projects. (Mayor Mike McGinn has proposed a permanent, $80 fee, but that appears to be a nonstarter at the council.) Council transportation chair Tom Rasmussen presented a compromise proposal that would cost $60 and last eight years; however, that "compromise" now appears to be the starting point. If council members want to negotiate for more or less, they'll have to make their case against Rasmussen's $60 proposal.
Meanwhile, the Seattle Planning Commission, which advises the council on planning issues, came out in favor of the $80 fee. In a letter to Rasmussen today, commission members wrote, "The full $80 dollar VLF as opposed to a smaller number provides the revenue necessary to construct the important downtown Rapid Streetcar connection as well as allow for significant progress in constructing high capacity transit (likely to be Rapid Streetcar) for the Ballard or Eastlake corridors."
Tonight's meeting starts at 5:30 pm in city council chambers; the TBD board meets again to discuss potential ballot measures at 11:00 am on Tuesday, August 16.
